Five Shotzzy plays that guided OpTic Gaming to Esports World Cup success

This year’s Esports World Cup (EWC) saw OpTic Gaming complete a successful title defense, much to the delight of the capacity crowd in attendance. After winning in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 last year, the North American organization successfully lifted the trophy in Call of Duty: Black Ops 7. 

While success at Call of Duty’s highest level heavily relies on excellent teamwork and communication, there are instances where a burst of individual brilliance can turn the tide of a match in favor of a team. 

In the case of the Green Wall, Anthony “Shotzzy” Cuevas-Castro produced a clinical performance with the submachine gun in hand, scoring 655 kills across the entire tournament. On several occasions, Shotzzy’s skill proved the difference on the main stage. With that said, here’s a breakdown of five high-impact plays that enabled the Green Wall to stand tall in Paris.

Known for his ability to extract everything from Call of Duty’s movement mechanics, Shotzzy immediately showcased his skills in OpTic’s group stage encounter with Project Notorious. The opening Hacienda Hardpoint saw the defending EWC champions establish a comfortable lead over the Challengers roster. 

The fourth Hardpoint saw Shotzzy immediately break through any kind of defensive hold thanks to two swift kills from the Boathouse side. Instead of looking for cover or additional support, the three-time Call of Duty League (CDL) champion bounced above the rock to eliminate a third opponent with clinical precision. 

After scoring the third kill, a push towards the upper balcony overlooking the center of the map and the next objective followed. While the play concluded with the third kill over the top of the rock, the immediate focus towards the next objective and the opponent’s next spawn point demonstrates complete understanding of Black Ops 7’s inner workings.

Succeeding as a submachine gunner in Call of Duty esports heavily relies on securing space on the map and roaming a specific area in order to stop any kind of opposing strategy being executed. 

The deciding Sake Search and Destroy against 100 Thieves in the winner’s semi-final was the perfect example of Shotzzy’s relentless pressure to force the opposition into unfavorable scenarios. A round three ace was just the start for Shotzzy, who scored the final kill thanks to some excellent teamplay from his squadmates.

While he didn’t earn any scorestreaks, the teamwork displayed proved too much for the Thieves.

Pressure didn’t stop there. Complete control of the B bombsite halted any kind of attacking play from the opponents, forcing them wide and straight into the crosshairs of the perfectly positioned assault rifle players.

100 Thieves couldn’t handle Shotzzy’s pressure. After nine rounds of play, the eventual MVP ended with ten kills to three deaths along with a series S&D K/D ratio of 2.13.

Having the ability to score more kills than the opponent in Call of Duty esports makes all the difference when attempting to control specific areas of the battlefield. Shotzzy displayed the importance of an effective slayer in the opening Den Hardpoint against FaZe Clan during the quarter-finals. 

Throughout the map, Shotzzy scored multiple eliminations in quick succession, opening lanes with ease, and preventing any kind of FaZe Clan attack on the objective. His ability to trade with nearby teammates shone through, tackling any low-health opposition before they have any chance to regenerate and launch another offense on the hill.

OpTic Gaming went on to win the map, with Shotzzy once again at the forefront of the slaying department. 36 kills against the newly-crowned CDL champions alongside one minute and 45 seconds on the Hardpoint demonstrated just how important topping the kill column is at the highest level. 

In other first-person shooters like Counter-Strike and VALORANT, mastering utility is essential in order to gain control of the map. Due to Call of Duty’s quicker pace of play, utility is less of a factor. When used correctly, it can have a huge impact on the opening salvos of a match. 

Frequency Hardpoint versus Team Heretics is a perfect example of how utility can open the door for a team to earn a wealth of points. The momentum of a back-and-forth contest came to a halt on the first Hardpoint hill in the latter stages. A perfectly cooked frag grenade from Shotzzy took down two opponents before a third kill wiped out any Team Heretics pressure.

The grenade may have only earned OpTic Gaming a handful of objective time, but the Green Wall’s spawn control ensured the team had control of the next objective. As a result, the score continued building, preventing any kind of Team Heretics comeback. 

Defense is equally as important as offense in Call of Duty esports. Locking down a Hardpoint or maintaining a line of sight often determines whether a team emerges victorious or loses by the narrowest of margins. 

Den Overload in the Grand Final saw OpTic Gaming dominate with a ruthless spawn trap, preventing any Team Heretics control. With two minutes left in the second half, Team Heretics managed to break out and launch an attack of their own. After eliminating three OpTic Gaming members, it came down to Shotzzy to prevent the Spaniards from adding another point to the scoreboard. 

In the blink of an eye, Shotzzy relieved all pressure on the B capture point. A first kill swiftly followed by a well-timed sliding headshot dealt with two of the three attackers. The third elimination soon followed, stopping any kind of scoring opportunity. Team Heretics managed to score a second capture, but it wasn’t enough to topple the Green Wall, who went on to secure match point and the eventual victory.